Sebastien Bassong left ruing Norwich City’s West Ham nightmare

Sébastien Bassong looks dejected at the end of Norwich City's defeat in Cardiff at the start of the month - one arguably overshadowed by their loss at West Ham on Tuesday night. Picture by Tom Smith/Focus Images

For successive away games, the Canaries’ conspired to miss a host of wonderful chances – only to be undone at the other end to hand Premier League relegation rivals three points and leave City’s own survival chances heavily questioned.

“I feel like I’m dreaming or it’s a nightmare,” said Bassong. “I don’t even know how we could have lost this game. Maybe I’m going to wake up and I’ll be on the pitch and it’s still 0-0, and we win the game. But the reality is we lost it.

“In football the basic thing is to put the ball in the net. If we do that, we’ve got a chance to win the game. But when it’s still 0-0 and we don’t score, no matter how good we are on the pitch there is still a chance for us to concede. That’s what happened, and it’s what’s happened most of the season.”

City’s inability to take chances – whoever it is they fall to – could prove terminal unless Chris Hughton’s squad finds an answer.

“As a team we do spend a lot of time on our finishing,” said Bassong. “But obviously it’s not working on the pitch. I don’t know. I can’t say this was one of those days because it’s been that too often this season. It’s just facing the truth.

“We didn’t defend the whole game. They play pretty direct, but for most of the game we handled them pretty easily.

“On the first goal we switched off a bit and John (Ruddy) came out late. They are small details of the game.

“But I can’t blame the team defensively. I think we did the work – but we didn’t score.”

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Funny old game isn't .
HOW THINGS TURN AROUND.
Spent 30million proberly thought top six spot at the start of the season.
Old saying the cream raise's to the top
And you our old chums are going down the toilet fast like a bad curry ...

I hope that Bassong and all his colleagues are now prepared for life in the Championship next season, because that is where they are heading. Hysterical over-reaction?? Look at the facts and stats. To achieve the 40 point mark with the remaining games, we need to average 1.25 points a game. We haven't achieved that all season. Can you see us starting now??? Games left, 12. Points needed for safety? 40. We have the 3rd worst goal difference at -20. There comes a time in life when you realise that blind hope just isnt enough. I am now sadly resigned to what I see as being the inevitable, come May. I also wonder how many of our so called stars will attempt to jump the ship that they have run onto the rocks, when that happens??

not surprising that none of our subs have scored or assisted this season when our two most dangerous threats , Hooper & Redmond are replaced by Elmander & RVW . Also why are we not using Whittaker & Hoolahan and their creative talents . We're really missing Howson & E.Bennett

BLUE.FINN what is you problem pal ? Has the bottom fallen out of your world, or, is the world falling out of your bottom. Do us all a favour and trot back to donkey-ville where I am sure you can choose from any one of 10,000 empty seats at the portable toilet park.

Something of a shocker there, witnessing Dubai Canary `dissing` FINN.BLUE. Akin to seeing Pollyanna having a punch-up, or the late Shirley Temple `glassing` somebody. What`s the matter DubCan? Doesn`t your Euphoria Elixir work on non-believers? I`ve had some decent chats with F.B; he admits to being an 1p5wicher but has been quite measured in his comments so far. As for stealing the gist of the geriatric Draught Bass joke for your very original jibe.... a bit trite, even for you. Hi, el dingo, glad you`re still extant; one of the better contributors to these boards - you`re almost as good as Prolix Paddy ;-) As for the otbreak of Houghtonery, Bob Hount was coulpable, while `Harry` gout it right ounce then souccoumbed to the temptation of an extra `O`. Come on, lads, you may only have a short time to get it right before Hoghtun`s oot.

Ironically the performance s have been half decent in recent games, and that's the very thing that made we want rid of Hughton, but looks like it will 've the results that is the end of him. Well maybe if you spend so long being defensive and negative it's hard to turn round like a massive ocean liner, shame we are heading straight for the iceberg. How many winnable matches left? Not many and we will need to score.

Colin how can that be an excuse? Shooting practise is essential surely and its pointless making endless excuses when on paper \Hopper Ricky and Snoddy are very capable maybe they need a talking to
Also how many times does redmond put the team in goal scoring position and then blow it?
Surely thats what coaches are for...

Tried to post this earlier. Why are board in paralysis? There are only two options - back CH and tell the fans to get behind manager and club and stop all the negativity, or sack CH appoint an interim leading to a long term replacement and still tell fans to get behind interim and club. Say nothing and doing nothing is not an option. As many businesses have seen, boards that just focus on short term financials do not bring longterm success.

Lot of bile and senile angst on here from my perspective! For most of the game Tuesday we were on top, the team were nicely organised and we had some excellent opportunities. The let down I saw were a few bad tactical decisions by the players themselves when put under pressure. we badly need a big forward to help push in the box - Hoops, Redmond, RVW were getting swallowed up by Collins and his ilk. Pair a big forward with Redmond improving his shooting accuracy and it would be different topics of conversation on here. Though I suspect some of you would still like Hughton out even if we were 10th.

As a Norwich fan, I don't understand the persistence of the board to keep faith this set up.
We bought Becchio - He never plays: Hoola is now obviously on the outer after his outburst.
So Becchio a striker he may not be an amazing talent but we paid money for him, so play him, start him, give him a chance and then the fans can say yes or no with him as a long term player etc... Hoola play him, he does not have to prove his worth.
Inept performances this season against Hull, WH, Villa, Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle, Everton A, Fulham 3 times is too many. Lets count our good performances, probably about 2 or 3.
Hughton has failed as coach of City, we can blame the players, missed chances,,, he had a team that played well on Saturday and nearly won the game,,, he changed that team for WH and they lost... and based on this fact and fact alone he made the wrong decision....
I said when we signed Elmander, a waste, he is not good enough and should be they guy always on the bench,,, he cannot score and offers little, again Hughton believes he can....Sorry but I like many have supported Norwich for 45 years, and this season is up there as the most miserable,,, we cannot find any joy in this set up,, yet they persist with it.... Norwich will get relegated this year and Hughton will go...the stats do not lie... and the board should have seen this 3 months ago after losing 7-0 and 5-1 to better teams as well as crucial losses and draws at home...

Why does everyone blame Hughton ? It is not all his fault - what about Paul Lambert ? His 'burning ambition' built up our hopes and expectations - showed us the glory days again - and then promptly walked out on us. Lambert is in some part responsible for our situation - can you imagine the damage we could do if PL had been given 30M squid to spend on our team ?

When Bassong said that the team spend a lot of time on their finishing,I first read it as 'fishing'.Perhaps that's what he really meant,because most of this squad would need a GPS to find the back of the net.I suppose that a few guys will be fishing for other clubs if (or should that be when?) we go down.We should just take the first offer for RVW.His value right now is about the equivalent of a can of Stella and a bag of pork scratchings.

No striker has been able to score for Norwich city since Hughton came to the club no matter their scoring record with other clubs please remember all the players signed scored their goals in much weaker leagues than the premiership. Houghton has never managed a club that has had a good goal scoring record and never will. Do not be concerned about Bassong, Hooper, RVW and company preparing for championship football if we go down they will jump ship as soon as they can, players like Bassong and Snodgrass looked our best players last year this season they have been very poor I do not know what Snodgrass has to do to be dropped. The Board also has to take responsibility for the position we are in they employed CH and they have stuck with him.

Yes Seb, you missed the header and Ruddy did not attack the ball, as he had previously done all night. That was the problem. Then we had Martin left trailing for the next give away goal. This is only part of the overall problem which you squad members need to put right !!!

The only positive thing about all this is that we will be rid of Hughton, probably McNally as well along with some of the over rated, over priced and under caring players when we go down. RVW can go home along with homesick Leroy to Holland, Wes can go to Lambo's Villa, Ruddy can go to vitually any Prem club, Elmander and Snodgrass can sign for Wroxham (if they'll have them), and the rest of us will watch our team thrash the mighty blues down the road twice a season. Sorry FINN BLUE (nice to see one ITFC fan on our site with more than one brain cell though). I was here through all the good and bad times of the last sixty years like my dear old Dad before me, and I don't need to hear happy clappers telling me to get behind my team, I will always do that. What I won't do however is ever believe in Hughton, Bewilderwood or Tripe.

Ironically the performance s have been half decent in recent games, and that's the very thing that made we want rid of Hughton, but looks like it will 've the results that is the end of him. Well maybe if you spend so long being defensive and negative it's hard to turn round like a massive ocean liner, shame we are heading straight for the iceberg. How many winnable matches left? Not many and we will need to score.

How refreshing of the Club Captain to admit that he is walking around in a dream. One wonders when he will wake up and realise he is helping to destroy this Club? Perhaps when he DOES wake up he could nudge his Manager and wake him up too ?

powelld123. Good to read some measured perspective and common sense. We are not far away from the answer. Where do we get that big, quick, aware guy on loan from? The Hughton Haters are lost in transition.

Ironically the performance s have been half decent in recent games, and that's the very thing that made we want rid of Hughton, but looks like it will 've the results that is the end of him. Well maybe if you spend so long being defensive and negative it's hard to turn round like a massive ocean liner, shame we are heading straight for the iceberg. How many winnable matches left? Not many and we will need to score.

The strikers are to blame in my opinion not Chris Houghton. They have been getting chances but not converting any of them. Drop Snoddy, RVW, Hooper andElmander and replace them with Becchio, Murphy and other forwards from the U-21 squad. Can't do any worse!!

Bassong and Yobo were 2 guys you can't complain about yesterday. They did their jobs and well, and were let down by Hooper missing chance after chance after chance like he's been doing all year as he's useless, and Ruddy's error. Sure, his quote might be slightly annoying but he's right and you can't put this on him or Yobo.

Hear Hear! oldtimer. We should welcome sensible comments from opposing supporters, even Ipswich ones. FINN did not deserve that banal, formulaic attack from the Dubai Doyen of Delusion. Post Hugh Trollderwood, the Happy Clappers will retire to their nurseries, with their cuddly toys and comfort blankets, and await their New Daddy. Perhaps they`ll get the Return of Roeder with a makeover. Ps, FINN.BLUE also does decent and original banter. I expect we`ll have Monkey Nuts back on board when the Villa game comes around. He rode out a fair bit of abuse - and dished out a bit in return - but a civilised contributor indeed.

I hope that Bassong and all his colleagues are now prepared for life in the Championship next season, because that is where they are heading. Hysterical over-reaction?? Look at the facts and stats. To achieve the 40 point mark with the remaining games, we need to average 1.25 points a game. We haven't achieved that all season. Can you see us starting now??? Games left, 12. Points needed for safety? 40. We have the 3rd worst goal difference at -20. There comes a time in life when you realise that blind hope just isnt enough. I am now sadly resigned to what I see as being the inevitable, come May. I also wonder how many of our so called stars will attempt to jump the ship that they have run onto the rocks, when that happens??

Sharky - interesting question, is no statement equivalent to backing? Other clubs with managers under pressure often have made more of a statement than McN's a few weeks back, and I would think if they do back him, then ask the fans to get behind manager and club in these tough times.
Pierre - maybe he had better forwards at Newcastle, which, if the case, would not be supportive of his abilities in picking players.
Bottom line for me - I want to see every NCFC manager succeed, but I think CH has had his chance and needs replacing with someone who is very dynamic and can instill this in the squad at this critical point in the season.

It appears Bassong is blaming the strikers and Ruddy. I have some sympathy with him. However, Hughton picks the team and Snod missed a sitter last night. All Bowkett and McNally care about is being debt free and are slapping themselves on the back for achieving that and paying themselves big bonuses. However, we all know it was down to Lambert and Delia for keeping the club a float during the bad times, It is time they both resigned and took Hughton with them.

The only positive thing about all this is that we will be rid of Hughton, probably McNally as well along with some of the over rated, over priced and under caring players when we go down. RVW can go home along with homesick Leroy to Holland, Wes can go to Lambo's Villa, Ruddy can go to vitually any Prem club, Elmander and Snodgrass can sign for Wroxham (if they'll have them), and the rest of us will watch our team thrash the mighty blues down the road twice a season. Sorry FINN BLUE (nice to see one ITFC fan on our site with more than one brain cell though). I was here through all the good and bad times of the last sixty years like my dear old Dad before me, and I don't need to hear happy clappers telling me to get behind my team, I will always do that. What I won't do however is ever believe in Hughton, Bewilderwood or Tripe.

No striker has been able to score for Norwich city since Hughton came to the club no matter their scoring record with other clubs please remember all the players signed scored their goals in much weaker leagues than the premiership. Houghton has never managed a club that has had a good goal scoring record and never will. Do not be concerned about Bassong, Hooper, RVW and company preparing for championship football if we go down they will jump ship as soon as they can, players like Bassong and Snodgrass looked our best players last year this season they have been very poor I do not know what Snodgrass has to do to be dropped. The Board also has to take responsibility for the position we are in they employed CH and they have stuck with him.

watched the game last night.couldnt believe snodgrass came out for the second half.and what were those subs all about.i would have brought on becchio and wes.also the silence coming from the boardroom is deaferning.

Pierre - maybe he had a good attacking coach. That has been proposed on here and many other places, but I seem to remember CH rejected this in an interview. Bottom line - he is responsible for the team's performance and results. He cannot hide behind "I have not had money to buy players". Which ever way you look at it, it comes back to managerial performance, and the board either needs to back him or fire him and tell the fans to get behind the club and their decision. This sitting on the fence is moving the issue from manager to board.

You know what's sad? Is the fact that we all had such high hopes for this season, what with the amount spent on what we believed to be decent players, I remember watching some video of RVW and thinking sweet ! Also a manager starting his first full season, not to mention debt free, and now.... What a Fn let down.

Nelly please dont go.
As it seems you are as passionate about your team as ia'm of mine.
you and all are going through the extact same as we did unfortunately you are going down unless a big shake
up happens.
And i wish to say to Dubai canary this is a much better site to be on at the moment so dont get to upset by me.
As much as i wish we change places
i think you will stay up and we wont go up but it will be tense for us both
So hang on for the ride...

Listened to BIg Sam post match last night ans he claimed it was his tactical change that won them the game. He put Mo Diame on the left wing second half to attack us and then they waited for CH to make his change. The daft thing is, we went more defensive and that cost us the goals.

Yes, if we go down (or is it when?) we will get rid of Hughton. Too late in the day though. And ironically he might have done alright in the Championship. I cannot view our relegation with anything other than abject misery. Mind you the 2010-11 season when we got promoted from the Championship is perhaps the season I have enjoyed most in recent times. But the chances of finding another PL are remote.

Good job sunderland didnt play tonight,otherwise they needed a draw to put us in bottom three !.Wake up McNally,this is last time i will comment on here til the idiot and his stooges are gone,Goodnight and close the door behind you whoever is last out.

I find it so strange that board is not saying anything. If they are happy with CH and co., and intend to continue, then come out and support him and say he is staying, and tell the fans to get behind the team and the manager. If they don't support him, then make the change, put someone in charge temporarily until a permanent replacement is named, and again, tell the fans to get behind the team and replacement manager. This saying and doing nothing just says we have an incompetent board running the club when it comes to football, although how many businesses have failed due to short term financial focus, as opposed to optimizing the product.

Terrible decisions by the manager contrived to lose us this game that yet again was there for the taking. First, why bring back Snodgrass in place of Pilkington who did so well against Man City ?. Where is the motivation to play well when you get dropped next game?. Why take off Redmund when each time he had the ball, he scared the daylights out of the West Ham defenders ?. What message did Houghton send out to the team when he replaced Hooper with Elmander?. Why didn't Houghton bring on Wes to replace a tiring Snodgrass?. If Hooper was tiring, why replace him with only a few minutes left with an out of form "striker" ?(using the term loosely) . Why isn't Becchio getting any opportunities?. Seems that £28 Million spent is acceptable by the board as long as we stay out of the bottom three. The boards ambitions for our club seem a great deal less than us the fans who deserve more than a tactically inept manager and coaching team. So many questions from us fans greeted with silence by McNally and the rest of the board. Please Delia, save our club from what seems like the second coming of Glenn Roeder.

Would remind Harry and Michigan that CH managed Newcastle in 200910 and got them 90 league goals. Carroll got nearly 30 for CH in the season and a half before CH was sacked. Carroll then moved clubs at great expense and largely dried up.

Yesterday, generally, it was a case of... chances created: Check. Solid defending: Check. Strikers taking chances: Fail. The substitutions were a disastrous choice however. I honestly think we'd have got a late winner if he hadn't made the substitutions. Ironic when you consider how many have criticised him for not making game-changing substitutions. I agree with Dubai in his more measured approach. These lads are good enough to surive and they're playing well enough to survive, providing the strikers can step up and do their part. They're all capable shooting and scoring. They were getting decent service yesterday. They need to do their jobs.

A lot of factors that are all CH's responsibility I believe. 1) These strikers were all performing else where. I could accept if one went off song, but all of them when they come to Norwich and work under CH's tactics. 2) Substitutions - as well as making tactical subs to change the game pattern in our favor, you can also plan to make subs of defenders who have given their all 60 or 70 minutes and are just flat out exhausted. This way maybe mistakes are not made. You have 14 players so use the energy of all of them. 3) The starting line up with players playing out of position (wingers on the wrong side), plus others moving around. If he does not know where peoples best positions are by now, then that is a big part of the problem.
We need a change at the helm urgently.

The strikers are to blame in my opinion not Chris Houghton. They have been getting chances but not converting any of them. Drop Snoddy, RVW, Hooper andElmander and replace them with Becchio, Murphy and other forwards from the U-21 squad. Can't do any worse!!

It appears Bassong is blaming the strikers and Ruddy. I have some sympathy with him. However, Hughton picks the team and Snod missed a sitter last night. All Bowkett and McNally care about is being debt free and are slapping themselves on the back for achieving that and paying themselves big bonuses. However, we all know it was down to Lambert and Delia for keeping the club a float during the bad times, It is time they both resigned and took Hughton with them.

Not sure how anyone can stick up for Chris Hughton. His substitutions were absolutely comical. Taking off Redmond the only player causing West Ham problems. Playing Elmander up front on his own when the game was there for the taking. It's no surprise none of his subs this season have scored or got an assist. It's time for change or we will almost certainly be playing championship football next season.

Please people get your head round the fact that there is only one "O" in Hughton. There is however also one in clOwn which is what he is. His style of mismanagement would be funny if it wasn't ruining our club. He is without doubt right up there with Roeder, Grant, Hamilton and Gunn as a manager int erms of vying for the worst manager in our history, and anyone who thinks otherwise is as deluded as he is.

Sadly what sums it all up for me is that a) we have a clueless manager and coaching team b) we have numerous players who are just not up to Premiership level c) all belief has left the locker room. Using the above as headlines you can then fill in the sub-plots, such as Hughton being unable to set up the team to its best effect or to read a game in progress. The bottom line, however, is our pathetic goal scoring record. And that is what will take us down.

I am not averse to hypotheses but as we don't have and can't now get a 'big forward' your suggestion is pretty pointless. NCFC have a point though. A point between us and the drop zone. The two teams immediately below us are enjoying better form so it is looking dicey for the Canaries. Someone on here, I forget who, said goal difference is a reliable indicator of who's for the chop. Ours is third worst in the league...

Fair assessment from Bassong and in fairness to CH, the signing of Yobo has really stabilised the back line and the second goal wouldn't have been scored if we weren't desperately trying to get back into the game. However to remove the only player on the team sheet who has scored goals and replace him with a loan striker that has a worse goal scoring record on the PL than your average defender is probably the most unbelievable move I have ever seen. Why replace Redmond when Snodgrass was the one underperforming and when Pilks and are one were so good on Sat. Why replace Tettey when it was Johnson on a yellow card and unable to complete a pass. We ended up with two strikers with one goal between them on the pitch in replace of one striker with 5.

It appears Bassong is blaming the strikers and Ruddy. I have some sympathy with him. However, Hughton picks the team and Snod missed a sitter last night. All Bowkett and McNally care about is being debt free and are slapping themselves on the back for achieving that and paying themselves big bonuses. However, we all know it was down to Lambert and Delia for keeping the club a float during the bad times, It is time they both resigned and took Hughton with them.